Nurses From Lower North Island Settle Collective

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

From the seven District Health Boards of the lower north island: Hawke’s Bay,
Hutt Valley, Mid Central, Taranaki, Wairarapa, Whanganui & Capital and Coast.

13 June 2002

Nurses From Lower North Island Settle On Collective Agreement

The seven District Health Boards of the lower north island are pleased to have reached a settlement with the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) in a new multi-employer collective agreement (MECA)

The MECA is a first for the seven boards, and their advocate, Len McFarlane, says it sets standard base rates for staff nurses, enrolled, and district nurses, as well as care associates and hospital aides.

Mr McFarlane said that putting together several documents into one was a complex and difficult process. “The cooperative approach of the NZNO and the DHBs allowed us to reach this successful outcome,” he said.

The new agreement covers an 18-month period, and will expire in December next year.

A new shift allowance structure is also being introduced over that period and will see an increase in payments by some DHBs. The agreement does not include senior staff nurses such as team leaders, clinical educators and case coordinators. Their contract negotiations are due to start in August.

However, those senior nurses currently covered by a collective contract will have their terms and conditions protected.

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